Whats Important Now!

Well said, that's something alot of parents should print out, and keep on the fridge to remind them from day to day.Kids grow up too darn fast.The movie 'Click' can relate to your story.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:

I have thought about this talk many times over the years. Everytime I see a post about parents worrying about the next level. Everytime I see someone stressing about baseball and wishing their son was here or there. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy that home run. Enjoy every play. Enjoy every game. Dont wish your life away. Dont rush it in anyway. It goes by so fast. Enjoy it and be there no matter what you have to do. Be there , you will never regret the time you spend with your children. For goodness sake "Let it be fun."

Been guilty of that myself.

Good post, CM.

I think we've all probably been guilty of it to one degree or another.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
Everytime I see a post about parents worrying about the next level.

Great reminder. I catch myself all the time feeling like I can't wait until my son gets to the next level. Well, why not thoroughly enjoy the level he's at right now?

This year he made varsity as a freshman. So we're locked into this "level" for four years now and we're going to enjoy the heck out of them!

Oh believe me so have I. I started out in law enforcement when I was very young. When I got out of it my kids were 9 and 12. Before I got out I never attended anything at the school. No pta meetings , no parent teach conferences and I missed so many games etc. I never missed work when they were sick. My wife always stayed home with them. What would I do right now to go back in time and be able to stay home for a whole day with my kids and just hang out? Read a book to them. Watch some Ninja Turtles videos with them. Make them a nice little lunch.

The things you dont think are important to you when you have the chance to do them end up being the things you wish you could go back and do the most.

It relates to baseball as well. How about just going outside and playing catch? How about throwing some bp and let it be fun instead of "Come on hit it the other way!" Man let it be fun and enjoy the moment. It doesnt have to be TRAINING , TRAINING , TRAINING! How about making it fun and building some memories together. Maybe then when they get older they will want to train. But also they will want to come back home and go hunting or fishing with you as well. JMHO

Raising my hand here! Guilty as charged!

It's amazing looking back at how wrapped up I became with helping my son pursue all the opportunities to find a college that was a great fit for him. Then he signed. Next, how increasingly excited we were as a family for his Senior year of ball to begin and all the great opportunities and games we would be watching him play in.

All this time the focus and chatter has been on his ball playing...then....all of a sudden one day I get a dose of what is important....to my son that is. I was standing behind the back stop at the start of our 1st game this season when a mom and dad that I had never met came up to me. They had moved in and were new to the school and their son, a junior, had made the team. She introduced herself and husband. Nice people I thought. She grabbed my hand and almost instantly began to cry a little. She begin to tell me how much my son meant to them and their son. That my son over the past fall had befriended their son and welcomed him to the team (though tryouts were months away). She said my son had led small prayer groups with some of the boys on and off since last fall and encouraged them to work hard. I was taken aback by all this for here was someone I had never even met!

My son was making a difference. Later when I asked him about all this he told me that he wanted to leave a different legacy to those coming up. The boys before him cursed and played cruel jokes on the underclassmen.

I think my son will be okay afterall as he ventures off next fall to college.

Coach May:

Thank you.

I knew as soon as I read the title, that I had seen this somewhere before. Lou Holtz uses this as "Plan 5" in his book A Teen's Game Plan For Life. The W.I.N. formula or "What's Important Now" is great. Break things down and take life one step at a time.

If you haven't read the book, I recommend it to anyone. It's a pretty quick read, 122 pages, I got it for Confirmation in 8th grade. A fantastic book.

I got sick when my daughter was 10 and my son was 2. I was very ill. I ended up homeschooling my son for seven years because I wanted time with him.We had some wondeful years, traveled a lot and saw a lot of awesome places,for us travel baseball didnt start until he was 13.Now he just turned 18 on Thursday and my daugter is 26.'
The time flew, and now he will be going to college.We are enjoying his senior year a lot. the team is doing well, my son is having a great year, but it is already 10 games into season and they only play 27.Highschool just flew. for us Highschool baseball has been so enjoyable. we were I guess some of the lucky parents, no bad memories at all. met some great people , have traveled with them in the summer with travel teams,about 5 are going on to play college in some capacity, I will miss all of it. The last day they have senior day and they give the moms roses, I hope I dont cry like a baby.I guess when I was so sick and couldnt even go to a lot of his events when he was little I cherish being well enough to take in all the games.
And sometimes there are days that we are focused on the next level stuff, but have really stepped back and letting it evolve and its been pretty amazing.
I am proud of my kids, for who they are as people, there is a young boy about 12 who comes to all the HS games. I was told by the coaches wife that he went to his little league coach and told him he had to be 22 my sons number.He loves to watch my son play and cheers him on, he looks up to him because he knows how hard he has worked and he is having such a great year. I see him every game and it just makes me tear up to see a young boy looking up to him with his own dreams of his HS baseball,and my son has influenced him in a positive way.Just so much great stuff,I could write a book.

quote:

Originally posted by fanofgame:
there is a young boy about 12 who comes to all the HS games. I was told by the coaches wife that he went to his little league coach and told him he had to be 22 my sons number.He loves to watch my son play and cheers him on, he looks up to him because he knows how hard he has worked and he is having such a great year. I see him every game and it just makes me tear up to see a young boy looking up to him with his own dreams of his HS baseball,and my son has influenced him in a positive way.Just so much great stuff,I could write a book.

What a fitting way to end a HS career. There is no greater compliment. You should be proud.

FanofGame, you've reminded me of this that my high school basketball coach shares with his team each year...


Little eyes are watching you

There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol,
you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever rise.

He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way
when he's grown up just like you.

There's a wide eyed little fellow
who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened,
and he watches day and night.

You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Fanofgame's story should remind us how important the game is in all aspects nad enjoy every moment at evey level.

Don't wish away the moment you are in to be onto the next, ever.

Bulldog19

love that going to keep that.thank you